March and New Beginnings as a Baha’i

Good morning, today begins the Baha'i fast. March 1st through March 19th. I have been studying the Baha'i Faith now since 1973. I was introduced to the Baha'i Faith by my sister Barbie. I began attending informational meetings after moving to Anacortes, WA. My deepest attraction to the Baha'i teachings has been the principle of progressive revelation. Over the many years of participating in the Baha'i community, as a person who has accepted Baha'u'llah as the most recent manifeststion of God, I have found a path for my personal spiritual development and practice, as well a deep understanding of the development of humanity's collective spiritual growth. I have come to understand, through studying the of Baha'i Holy Writings, my purpose as a spiritual and living human being.

Today as the fast begins for Baha'is all over the world, I wish to share with you what lifts me up and provides solice for me as I navigate through my world, and as I've worked to express in my blog writings here, describing the foundation behind my life's experiences and practices from what I've been referring to as developing healthy self reflective "action plans". Today I offer up a brief account from two Baha'i web sites, introductory information on progressive revelation. The other describes the Baha'i fast with a few beautiful quotes and prayers from the Baha'i Holy Writings.

The photo is the entrance to the Shrine of Baha'u'llah in Acre, Israel.

https://www.bahai.org/bahaullah/shrine

The Baha'i Writings teach that "Humanity’s spiritual, intellectual and moral capacities have been cultivated through the successive teachings of the Founders of the world’s religions—the Manifestations of God. Among Them are Krishna, Abraham, Moses, Zoroaster, Buddha, Jesus Christ, Muhammad and, most recently, the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh. Each religion originates with God and is suited to the age and place in which it is revealed. In essence, the religion of God is one and whose progressive revelation is unfolding.

Progressive revelation, a core teaching in the Baha’i Faith, suggests that religions are inherently one and that truth is revealed by God progressively through a series of divine Messengers. Each Revelation is tailored to suit the needs of the time, the place of their appearance and the capacity of humanity.

https://www.bahai.us/beliefs/building-community/progressive-revelation/

Sharing here from the web site: https://www.bahai.org/beliefs/life-spirit/devotion/fasting

Please note you will find the proper references to the quotes below at the web site.

FASTING Fasting has been a significant practice of religion throughout human history. Many of the Manifestations of God Themselves went through a period of meditation and fasting at some point in Their lives during which, in intense communion with God, They contemplated the mysteries of the universe and the nature of Their mission.

Fasting, said ‘Abdu’l-Bahá “is the cause of awakening man. The heart becomes tender and the spirituality of man increases. This is produced by the fact that man’s thoughts will be confined to the commemoration of God, and through this awakening and stimulation surely ideal advancements follow”.[1]

However, it is important to note that fasting should not be viewed as a practice of asceticism, nor is it to be used as a means of penance: “[T]his material fast is an outer token of the spiritual fast; it is a symbol of self-restraint, the withholding of oneself from all appetites of the self, taking on the characteristics of the spirit, being carried away by the breathings of heaven and catching fire from the love of God.”[2]

Bahá’u’lláh designated a nineteen-day period each year during which adult Bahá’ís fast from sunrise to sunset each day. This period coincides with the Bahá’í month of Alá—meaning Loftiness—from 2 to 20 March, which immediately precedes the Bahá’í new year. It is a time of prayer, meditation, and spiritual rejuvenation.

A number of special prayers have been revealed specifically for the period of the fast. One, for example, begins with these words:

“This is, O my God, the first of the days on which Thou hast bidden Thy loved ones to observe the Fast. I ask of Thee by Thy Self and by him who hath fasted out of love for Thee and for Thy good-pleasure—and not out of self and desire, nor out of fear of Thy wrath—and by Thy most excellent names and august attributes, to purify Thy servants from the love of aught except Thee and to draw them nigh unto the Dawning-Place of the lights of Thy countenance and the Seat of the throne of Thy oneness. Illumine their hearts, O my God, with the light of Thy knowledge and brighten their faces with the rays of the Daystar that shineth from the horizon of Thy Will.”[3] — BAHÁ’U’LLÁH—